Adjustable lamp socket



March 7, 1939. L. w. RElS I 2,149,549

ADJUSTABLE LAMP SOCKET Filed Feb. 25, 1938 mvz TOR 60m R635 PatentedMar. 7, 1939 2,149,549 ADJUSTABLE LAMP SOCKET Leonard W. Rei

s, Jersey City, N. J., assignor of one-half to Edwin Werner, New Dorp,Staten Island, N. Y.

Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 191,886

This invention relates for lamps of the store windows and 5 Claims.

to adjustable supports type capable of being used in elsewhere to directone or more beams of light in a particular direction, and has for itsobject to provide which is safer than those a device of this typeheretofore suggested.

Another object is to increase the usefulness and capability of such adevice for adjustment.

A further object is to make such a device which is simple and rugged inconstruction and capable of being quickly adjusted and held in adjustedposition without the necessity of using a screwto provide such asupjustment without rotadanger of causing the be twisted.

provide such a support which is capable of absorbing shocks and lessening their transmission to the same time adapted to sion through thesupport.

the lamp, which is at reduce heat transmis- Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but with the plug and socketangularly disposed to one another.

Fig. 3 is a left end view of the device of Fig. 1

to show how the latch support is adjustable.

Fig. l

shows perspective details of the adjustable clarnping bands for thelatch and its catch.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing how be formed.

A lamp bulb 9 base portion H of which the teeth l9 may is supported in asocket ID, the

is threaded to receive the convolutions :2 of a helical spring. The plugM has its portion I3 the spring convolutions.

similarly threaded to receive The parts of the plug and socket receivingthe spring convolutions may be of either metal or insula erably they areof insulatin ting material, but pref g material such as por celain orappropriate and well known resinous compositions. Flexible in ductors itconnect plate the circuit between t band is shown in Figs. 3 and 4portion l3 of the plug beyond the plug and sulated electrical consocketand comhe plug and socket. A is attached to the where the spring a catchportion teeth IQ of the latch.

29 adapted to be engaged by the In order to prevent longitudinalmovement of the bands l6 and 11 they may be provided on each side withribs or flanges. shown as being held on th While these. bands are e plugor socket by the clamp screw illustrated, preferably these bands are notclamped so tightly as to be non-adjustable angularly about the axis ofthe plug and socket.

The latch i8 is preferably flexible so as to be readily inserted betweenthe socket base and the 5 catch 29 and when so inserted held therebysecurely for positively holding the spring l2 flexed with the plug andsocket angularly disposed to one another. If it desired to have the plugand socket angularly disposed to one another in a 10 different plane thebands It and I! are angularly shifted together the desired amount toaccomplish this result. Preferably these bands are mounted looselyenough on the plug and socket so as to be readily adjustable andpartially rotatable to the 15 desired position. Other types of latchmechanism may be used.

The teeth IS in the latch may be formed in a variety of ways such as bystamping them as shown in Fig. 5. By bending the spring a greater 2amount the latch may be used to hold the plug and socket in asubstantially 90 position of adjustment. The spring l2 may be madelonger or shorter than illustrated but the length shown has been foundappropriate for ordinary purposes. 25 When the spring i2 is lengthenedor shortened of course the latch mechanism should be changed to accordtherewith. The spring may be of other shape than the general cylindricaltype illustrated. For example in order that the convolu- 3 tions may notbe in the way of one another it is contemplated to have the spring inits central portion of substantially greater or smaller diameter than atthe ends in order that greater room for the convolutions may be providedwhen the spring is flexed.

A feature of this invention contemplates the convolutions and threads onthe plug and socket being so arranged that the spring may be easilythreaded in position but not so easily removed. This is because if thespring be rotated in a manner to tighten its hold upon one endconnection there should be no relative rotation of the spring on thatconnection. However, if the spring is partially twisted in the oppositedirection such partial twisting reduces the diameter of the convolutionssuiiiciently to more tightly bind the convolutions on the threadedportions. In fact with the arrangement just described it will bepossible to disconnect the spring from the threaded plug or socket onlyby applying a relative rotative pressure to an end of the lastconvolution of the spring wire. It is contemplated that the spring shallbe of steel such as is available on the market today and that it maythen be plated with a brass or other finish to correspond with whateveris desired for the finish on the plug and socket metal parts.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the resistanceofiered by the spring to any tendency for relative rotation between theplug and socket which might tend to twist and injure the flexibleconductors E5. The socket portion tends to become heated while the openconvolutions of the spring support provide satisfactory cooling toprevent transmission of the heat to the plug portion.

The convolutions being normally spaced apart permit the conductors to bevisible so that even if the convolutions might be rotatably or swivellyattached to either the plug or socket it is possible to view theconductors and avoid twisting them. The device illustrated. is capableof a wider variety of angular positions of adjustment in almost anyplane up to substantially This device is intended primarily for examplefor use in store window'lighting where the adjustable socket enables thelamp to direct its light in a particular or desired direction toilluminate some special object of display. Any vibrations to which theplug might be subjected are dampened and not transmitted to the lamp.

Another use is in the home to give a spot light capable of beingdirected wherever desired. The latch is quickly engaged and disengagedfrom its position in cooperation with the latch 20. Because of itsflexible nature the latch l8 may be bent so as to be readily releasedfrom between the socket and the catch. No screwdriver or wrenches arenecessary to positively hold the spring in its adjusted position.Instead of being engaged in threaded recesses in the plug and socket thespring might be attached in other ways for example by solder or welding.

Although the device of Fig. 2 shows the convolutions on the lower sidesubstantially contiguous, nevertheless this spring wire support isadapted to be bent to a much larger extent or until the plug and socketare substantially at right angles to one another.

The doubled end of the bands l6 and i1 is preferably threaded to receivethe screws, although of course a clamp nut could be used instead ofhaving this doubled wall portion internally threaded.

I claim:

1. The combination with an electrical connection for holding a lamp bulbor the like, another electrical connection for supporting the firstconnection, flexible conductors between said connections, of theimprovement which includes an adjustable spacing means between saidconnections comprising a flexible support around said conductors, saidsupport being substantially circular in cross section, a latch forholding said support flexed, and means loosely or freely ro tatable oneach connection for angularly adjusting said latch around said support.

2. The combination with an electrical connection for holding a lamp bulbor the like, another electrical connection for supporting the first connection, flexible conductors between said connections, of theimprovement which includes an adjustable spacing means between saidconnections comprising a flexible support around said conductors, saidsupport being a helical spring substantially circular in cross section,a latch for holding said support flexed, and means for angularlyadjusting said latch around said sup- 7 port, said latch adjusting meansincluding a band around one of said connectors, a catch means adapted tobe engaged by said latch and also mounted on a band around the other oneof said connectors, said bands being longitudinally beyond the ends ofsaid spring, whereby they will not oppose any tendency for the spring toexpand radially in attaching the same to said connectors.

3. The combination with an electrical connection for holding a lamp bulbor the like, another electrical connection for supporting the firstconnection, flexible conductors between said connections, of theimprovement which includes an adjustable spacing means between saidconnections comprising a flexible support around said conductors, saidsupport being substantially circular in cross section, a latch forholding said support flexed, and means loosely or freely rotatable oneach connection for angularly adjusting said latch around said support,said flexible support including a helical coil spring having itsconvolutions spaced apart at least slightly when unstressed.

a. The combination with a plug and socket of flexible connectorstherebetween, a flexible support spacing the plug and socket, meansoutside said support for holding it in flexed position, and rotarilyadjustable means attached to the plug and socket beyond the ends of saidsupport for moving the first mentioned means around said support, saidsupport being substantially nonrotatable relative to the plug and socketwhereby the conductors may be safeguarded against twisting and thesupport flexed in different directions.

5. The combination with a pair of connectors, of a helical coil springthreaded to the connectors and spacing them apart, a latch for holdingthe spring flexed, and means loosely secured to each oi said connectorsbeyond the ends of the spring for supporting said latch, said meansbeing rotarily adjustable with respect to the spring whereby said springmay be flexed in a variety of directions.

LEONARD W. REIS.

